Day 15: Paris

Day 15 was hot in Paris, but we managed to see a lot of it. We woke up and immediately went to the Metro to see if we could catch a morning public tour of Notre Dame.

At the metro station.

The Paris Visite passes worked without a problem and we were off to the Ile de la Cite stop. We grabbed a quick bite and good coffee and headed to Notre Dame.

Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris

We enjoyed talking with the kids about the sculptures on the front of the cathedral, particularly this one that shows Jesus above an angel and a devil with scales before somone pleading for mercy.

Above the main entrance at Notre Dame.

We could not find the guided tour, but we found something better. As it was Sunday, there was an 11:30 mass in the cathedral and we found our seats.
Inside the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris.

We would have taken more photos, but it is prohibited (and they saw me).

The mass was long (over an hour) and there was no air conditioning. The mass, of course, was in French, but it was fun to try to follow the program. The boys did fairly well, considering. They had a little trouble taking communion, but they meant well. It was terrific seeing such a well-known historical monument actually getting used for its intended purpose.
Sweaty and relieved after mass.

To cool off, we got a picnic lunch and found some shade in a park across the river from the cathedral.

Much better...

Rejuvenated, we decided to walk around the Ile de la Cite. This is the island in the middle of the Seine River where Paris started.

And to think, Garrett didn't want his photo taken at the start of the trip...
Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris.
The Seine, with the Louvre in the background.

We walked across Pont Neuf and took the metro stop to the Paris Opera, but the tour was not at the time advertised (as with the Notre Dame tour). We'll try again tomorrow. It was enjoyable listening to April tell the boys the whole "Phantom of the Opera" story and watch them get excited about touring the Paris Opera.

It was really hot in Paris, so after all this walking we stopped for some ice cream by the Louvre at a place recommended by a travel book. It was called Scoop, and it did the trick. We met a nice waiter from Salt Lake City, Utah, after we marveled at how well he spoke English.

At Scoop, much needed cooling.

We're waiting until later in the week to visit the Louvre, when they have extended evening hours, so we walked by, with a plan to visit the Tuilleries garden.

At the entrance to the Louvre.
It was very hot.
Seemed funny at the time.
Tuilleries Garden, between the Louvre and Place to the Concorde.

The walk down the Tuilleries provided little shade. It was less a garden, and more a park. A really big park.

We made it to Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris. This square is between the Tuilleries and the Champs-Elysees. The square is set up with viewing stands for the big, upcoming parade down the Champs-Elysees on Bastille Day. During the French Revolution, the guillotine was placed at Place de la Concorde and, among others, Marie Antoinette experienced it. In the summer of 1794, over 1300 people were executed here.
The Luxor Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, given by Egypt to France during 19th Century. The obelisk bears hyroglyphics praising the rule of Ramses II.

We decided to walk along the Champs-Elysees to see what all the fuss is about.Champs-Elysees, with Arc de Triomphe (rear)

Champs-Elysees is a mad house. Street to store front, this place was packed.
Crowds on the Champs-Elysees.

We made our way down the Champs-Elysees. All day in Paris, we were immediately recognized as Americans. Walking down the Champs-Elysees, it became apparent why. Paris men are fashionable, wearing tight fitting t-shirts and capri pants. Our comfortable REI clothing just didn't work with the scene. Did I mention that guys are wearing capri pants here? In Paris, but also throughout Europe, the people are much more fit than the average McAmerican.

After I refused to purchase some capri pants, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Arc de Triomphe

It was a very long, hot walk from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, but, after a tough hike up the steps, we were rewarded with a terrific view of Paris from the top.
From the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

At the end of this street is a monument to the French defense forces. April thought it interesting that a defense monument has a big hole in the middle of it.

La Defense

Each day at 6:30 pm, a French veterans group re-kindles the flame for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at the base of the Arc de Triomphe.

At the base of the Arc de Triomphe.

After a long day of walking, we found a restaurant serving American food that the kids would like. However, for dessert, the boys overcame their fear of French food and agreed to try Creme Brulee after several refusals, and they were pleasantly surprised.

Loving the French dessert...

There is so much to see and do in Paris.